Kendrick Lamar On Signing With Interscope And Aftermath

Kendrick Lamar talks about choosing to sign with Interscope because they help foster artists' creativity, and weighs in on Frank Ocean.

After gracing the cover of XXL with him, it
is becoming apparent that not only has Dr. Dre signed Kendrick Lamar, but he is
backing the artist fully and is looking to grow his career in a similar way he
did for Eminem. In a recent interview
with CBC.ca, K. Dot explained that the decision for him and Black Hippy to sign
with Aftermath and Interscope Records back in March.

It was the label’s ability to let their
artists grow creatively, that attracted Lamar, (from HipHopDX), “we were shopping because that’s when the money
wasn’t a factor – the numbers were crazy. So it was about who understood the
vision. And Dre and Jimmy Iovine understood. They were just banking off talent,
like Eminem.”

Kendrick
Lamar continued that he wants his group to develop much like Aftermath has,“[T]hey
understand how the growth of an independent company, like Aftermath, can
develop into something that becomes its own Interscope, and that’s what we’re
doing with Top Dawg Entertainment,” adding, “[W]e want to develop artists and
put out solid albums like Eminem did with The
Marshall Mathers LP and 50 Cent did with Get Rich Or Die Trying – they’re
records that stood the test of time. They understood that."

You can
also add K. Dot to the list of rappers that support Frank Ocean’s decision to
go public with his sexuality, “[Y]eah, he’s being his own individual. I respect
him for coming out with it, knowing it’s a lot of tough-acting rappers out here
that got the same sexuality and scared so they’ll go stage a front. I respect
that man more for being aware.”